Les Kurbis

In the early hours of August 30, 2026, Les Kurbis finished his work on earth and went to heaven to look for a John Deere tractor that was in need of an operator.

Dad grew up on the farm his parents homesteaded in Dencross, MB. He lived and worked there his whole life except for winters in the early years that he spent cutting pulpwood as a supplement towards his plans to take over the farm. It was during one of those winters that a nearly fatal accident from a falling tree left him with an appreciation for the protection offered by wearing a hard hat. He would continue to wear one whenever he was working and it became something his neighbors could recognize him by before they could see his face. He loved raising cattle and making feed for them. For many years he volunteered on community groups that worked at improving the practices used in the occupation he loved through research and on farm trials. In the late 70s he got into the business of selling hay and with 4 growing boys as operators, he built a reputation for growing the high-quality feed the American buyers were looking for.

He loved the country music he remembered from his early years. While Nashville never called, growing up we thought he could yodel just as good as the singers on the records he played for us. In his later years he finally got to take his love of music out of the house and found true happiness within the Beausejour music community. There had to be an extreme need for a farm job to get finished for him to not decide it could wait until tomorrow if it was country and gospel jam night and he was going. Part of dads heart always wanted to be a cowboy and that led to his love of western apparel. If you are attending the funeral, you are invited to join some of the family in wearing a cowboy hat just like he loved doing.

Baseball was something he never got enough of. On Saturday he watched the BlueJays win a close game and that meant his last day was a really good one for him.

Family was what he was most proud of. He married Esther Otto in 1971 and by the middle of their 6th year together they had their hands full with 4 mischievous boys, Brian (Amanda), Tim, Rick 1976-2018 (Heather) and Kevin (Andrea). In 2002 grandchildren entered the picture and added a new level of pride, Jordan (Jackie), Kailey (Mack), Morgan (Sophie), Reuben, Colby, Sierra, Amy and Luke. Flynn is their first Great Grandchild. He is also survived by his sisters, Ethel (Ben), and Grace (Gary).

Faith was important to our dad. Between church and local prayer groups, bible studies and Christian men’s breakfast, he taught us faith by example.

He was predeceased by his parents Henry and Emeline, brother in-law Bill and son Rick.

A Traditional Funeral will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thalberg on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. with viewing 1 hour prior. The funeral will be broadcast on the lawn of the church. If you choose, please bring a lawn chair.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Memorial Fund, Box 57, Grp 327, RR 3, Beausejour, MB R0E 0C0

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com